CN1068801C - Fine mist liquid spray device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fine mist droplet liquid spray device, which comprises a hollow tubular housing (1) having at least one support surface formed on its inner cross section. The support surface is in close contact with the outer surface of a liquid source to provide support for the liquid source, thereby positioning a tubular liquid source (2) in the housing (1). The housing (1) comprises an air flow channel from a mouthpiece (3) located at one end of the housing (1) to a nozzle (9) located at the other end of the housing (1). The discharge end of the liquid source extends into the nozzle, and the liquid source may comprise a pen with a pen tip (14) of a water-absorbing material.

Description

Fine mist liquid spray device

The present invention relates to a liquid spraying device for distributing fine liquid particles, in particular a liquid dispensing device known as a spray gun.

Conventional spray guns include an accumulator that receives high pressure gas from a gas source. High-pressure gas is passed over the accumulator to create a spray of liquid particles, which is directed by a nozzle onto the appropriate surface. The compressed gas from the gas source is supplied to the spray gun through the pipeline, and its flow rate is controlled by a manual or automatic regulating valve. Usually compressed air sources contain propellant and are stored in heavy metal tanks. JP-A-61042350 and UK 2177620A disclose such spray guns, wherein the reservoir has taken the form of a felt-tip pen.

My British Patent 2245196 and International Patent Application PCT/GB93/02332 disclose spray gun arrangements for distributing a spray of fine liquid particles. The spray gun consists of a hand or foot operated pump that delivers compressed air directly to the nozzle. The felt tip pen can be loosely supported in the bracket. It has an absorbent tip very close to the nozzle outlet. The position of the nozzle can be adjusted. Air leaving the nozzle is directed to and over the tip of a felt-tip pen so that the liquid dispensed from the tip becomes an airborne fine-grained spray.

A tusk gun is disclosed in Published UK Patent Application 2257058 comprising a cylindrical housing with a mouthpiece for the use of a felt tip pen. The pen disclosed in this application is specifically designed to include a perforated end cap to equalize the pressure in the pen's internal reservoir without creating a vacuum.

In my co-pending International Patent Application WO 94/26421 an improved tubular configuration of the spray gun spreading device is disclosed. The spreading device includes a hollow tubular housing and a felt-tipped pen that is held in and spaced from the inner wall of the housing. The tubular housing includes a nozzle at one end and a mouthpiece at the other end through which air is passed through the tubular housing and over the felt-tip pen to the exit orifice of the nozzle. A support surface is provided in the housing for positioning the felt-tip pen in the housing so that its absorbent tip is at least partially within the boundaries of the nozzle outlet aperture.

The present invention intends to provide a simplified and relatively inexpensive spreading device which, like my earlier patent application WO 94/26421, eliminates the need for a pump, but which relies on air blowing to deliver the desired spray of finely colored particles from the reservoir. Liquid container, such as ink, ink, paint and other absorbent nibs. The spray gun dispensing device of the present application is an improvement of my above-mentioned design, and it provides a simple and very reliable means for positioning the pen or core in the tubular housing, and has an outlet nozzle, whose opening is adjusted to the air or surrounding pen tip. Other sources of air are preferred so that even young children can operate the spreading device to achieve the coloring effects that usually require a combination of very expensive and complex equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a unique design that covers the nib to prevent drying or other damage when the device is not in use.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fine droplet liquid spraying device, the device comprises an elongated hollow tubular housing, a pen with a water-absorbing material nib is stuck therein, a mouthpiece is provided at one end of the housing, and a mouthpiece is provided at the other end. a nozzle with a small hole into which the tip of the pen protrudes at least partially, the space between the inner surface of the housing and the perimeter of the pen defining one or more channels for the airflow, which is blown into the housing through the mouthpiece, Going over the pen tip of the pen and leaving the shell through a small hole, the device is characterized in that: a plurality of positioning surfaces extending along the length direction are formed on its inner section, the pen is stuck between the positioning surfaces, and the small hole on the mouth is connected with the expansion chamber Typically, the nib of the pen can extend at least partially into the expansion chamber, and the space between the adjacent locating surface and the periphery of the pen defines a passage for air flow through the housing, the air flow exiting the housing through the aperture and the expansion chamber.

The airflow accelerates as it enters the expansion chamber, dislodging liquid particles from the pen's absorbent nib surface and spreading them airborne.

The positioning means may include a plurality of ribs protruding inwardly from the inner surface of the housing. The blocking means may comprise steps formed on the ribs.

The housing may be formed from two separate tubular parts, one housing part having a socket-like end and the other housing part being insertable at one end to form a relatively tight fit therewith. The mouthpiece may include an annular passage defined between the inner wall of the housing and the elongated cap, the nib of the tubular liquid source may be inserted into one end of the elongated cap, and the other end of the cap is closed. The location of the liquid source can be chosen so that its nib is within or very close to the nozzle of the housing, or its nib is effectively enclosed within the elongated cap.

In an alternative arrangement, the liquid source may also be permanently located within the housing so that the tip of the nib is suitably within or in close proximity to the orifice of the nozzle. A detachable cap may be provided for the nozzle end of the housing when the spreading device is not in use.

There are three or more generally flat sides along at least a substantial length of the interior of the housing, the apices between adjacent sides defining the path of air flow when the pen or core is inside the housing. In another configuration, the inner wall of the housing has an elliptical cross-section.

In an optional construction, the positioning means includes an inner tube in which the liquid source is positioned, a passage for gas flow is defined between the outer periphery of the inner tube and the inner periphery of the outer tube, the outer tube being spaced apart from the inner tube. and substantially coaxial with it.

The housing is preferably made of plastic, although other materials can of course be used.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view, part of which is a cross-sectional view of the spreading device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are the views of Fig. 1 device two ends;

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are side views, which are cross-sectional views of the assembled device in the non-working mode and the working mode respectively.

As can be seen particularly in FIG. 1 , the device comprises a tubular housing 1 formed of two separable parts 1A, 1B, in which a felt-tip pen 2 is housed. The housing part 1A has a mouthpiece 3 comprising an annular passage 4 surrounding a tubular cap 5 at one end of the housing. The tubular cap is spaced apart from the inner wall surface of the opposing housing part 1A by three ribs 6 . At the other end remote from the mouthpiece 3, the housing part 1A expands into a socket tube 7, with which one end 8 of the housing part 1B can fit relatively tightly. On the other end of the housing part 1B there is a nozzle 9 which includes a small hole 10 opening into a deflation chamber 11 . Three ribs 12 protrude inwardly from the inner surface of the housing part 1B.

The felt pen 2 itself has an absorbent nib 14 . The absorbent nib determines the desired source of liquid to be dispensed, and the pen can be positioned in the housing 1 as follows: either place its nib in the cap 5 of the mouthpiece 3 as shown in Figure 4, or place it in the cap 5 of the mouthpiece 3 as shown in Figure 5. Its nib is placed in or very close to the orifice 10 of the nozzle 9 . As in the former position, the nib 14 is effectively enclosed in the cap 5, preventing loss of liquid due to drying. As in the latter position, the ribs 12 support the pen at the center of the housing 1, and the shoulders 15 on the pen body abut against the protruding steps 16 on the ribs 12. In this position, the nib 14 protrudes into or very close to the small hole 10 of the nozzle 9 .

In use, air is blown in by the user through the mouthpiece 3 and through the annular channel defined between the opposite surface on the pen body 2 and the inner surface of the housing, and the ribs 12 ensure the centering of the pen in the housing. As the blown air approaches the outlet nozzle 9 it passes over the nib 14 and then exits the housing through the aperture 10 and nozzle chamber 11 . The air is accelerated as it enters and passes through the expansion chamber, thereby causing a vortex motion which ensures efficient discharge of the liquid particles from the nib 14 of the pen 2 . Correct placement of the nib in the small hole 10 of the nozzle 9 enables even young children to use the device to produce high quality airbrush effects.

In an alternative, non-illustrated embodiment, the housing is generally triangular in cross-section along most of its length, with three sides of the housing serving as locating surfaces to hold the pen in place. Therefore, the ribs 12 are not required. The apex of the inner surface of the housing and the body of the pen define the required airflow path from the mouthpiece to the nozzle. In other respects, the housing may be the same as in FIGS. 1 to 5 .

Other housing shapes with more than three flat sides may also be used. Thus, the housing can be of square or diamond-shaped cross-section. Additionally, the housing may be of elliptical cross-section.

The housing, nozzle and mouthpiece can be made of plastic; of course other suitable materials can also be used.

In other, non-illustrated embodiments, the housing is made or assembled as a single piece and the pen is permanently positioned in the housing. In this arrangement, the tops of the ribs 12 may be pointed or toothed so that they press into the surface of the pen when the pen is installed in the housing 1 . In addition, the ribs (or their tops) can also be made of elastic material, and when the pen is installed in the housing 1, the pen compresses and deforms them.

In a further non-illustrated embodiment, the housing comprises an inner tube in which the pen 2 is positioned relatively tightly. In this arrangement, the inner tube is positioned in and spaced from the inner surface of the housing to define a gas flow passage for communicating the mouthpiece with the housing nozzle. The inner tube is preferably substantially coaxial with the outer shell.

For all the above-mentioned embodiments, simply blowing air through the mouthpiece of the relevant dispensing device can form a fine spray of colored ink particles in the air. The improved spreading device performance of the present invention allows even young children to reproduce the spray gun effect, which normally requires the combination of very expensive and difficult to operate equipment. A simple extension tube is used to cooperate with a mouthpiece, and the other end of the extension tube is matched with the mouthpiece of the shell, thereby also extending the length of the shell 1 . In doing so, it is not excluded that children who suffer from asthma problems also enjoy the spray gun dispensing device.

It will be appreciated that the above-described device is merely exemplary of the spreading device of the present invention and that modifications may readily be made to the device without departing from the precise scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. a mist drips sprayer unit, comprise an elongated hollow tubulose shell (1A, 1B), the pen (2) that has absorbent material nib (14) is stuck in wherein, one end of shell has a mouthpiece (3), the other end has a nozzle (9), disputing has an aperture (10) on the mouth, the nib of pen (2) stretches in the aperture at least in part, one or several passage of air-flow has been determined in space between an inner surface of outer cover and the periphery, air communication is crossed mouthpiece (3) and is blown into shell, cross the nib (14) of pen (2) and leave shell by aperture (10), device is characterised in that: form a plurality of locating surfaces that extend along its length on the interior cross section of shell, pen just is stuck between the locating surface, and the aperture on the nozzle (10) is connected with expanding chamber (11), and the nib (14) of pen (2) can partly stretch in the expanding chamber at least, the gas channel by shell has been determined in space between an adjacent positioned surface and a periphery, and this air communication small holes (10) and expanding chamber (11) leave shell.

2. device as claimed in claim 1 also comprises the retention device (16) in the shell, and the surface (15) of pen can lean against above it, and nib (14) position that makes pen (2) is at least in part within nozzle aperture (10).

3. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: locating surface comprises a plurality of fins (12) that inwardly stretch out from inner surface of outer cover.

4. device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: retention device (16) is included in fin (12) and goes up the step that forms.

5. as any described device of claim 1 to 4, wherein: (1A 1B) forms shell, and an end of a casing part (1A) is socket pipe (7) shape by two tubular members that separate, one end (8) of another casing part (1B) can insert, and forms quite tight cooperation with it.

6. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: mouthpiece (3) comprise one be positioned between outer casing inner wall and the elongate cap (5) determine annular channel (4), the nib of pen (2) can insert an end of elongate cap, and the other end of cap (5) is closed.

7. device as claimed in claim 6, wherein: Shell structure becomes like this: the position of pen (2) may be selected to the nib (14) outside within the shell nozzle (9) or very approaching with it that makes it, and its nib (14) is enclosed within the elongate cap (5) effectively.

8. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: at least on most of length of enclosure, have and be generally flat side more than three or three, the locating surface of pen has been determined in the side, in the time of within pen is positioned at shell, the passage of air-flow has been determined on the summit between the adjacent side.

9. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the inner surface by an interior pipe has been determined locating surface, locate in interior pipe in the liquid source, has determined the passage of air-flow in this between the inner rim of pipe neighboring and outer tube, and outer tube separates with interior pipe and be coaxial with it basically.

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